The sinners guyde A vvorke contayning the whole regiment of a Christian life, deuided into two bookes: vvherein sinners are reclaimed from the by-path of vice and destruction, and brought vnto the high-way of euerlasting happinesse. Compiled in the Spanish tongue, by the learned and reuerend diuine, F. Lewes of Granada. Since translated into Latine, Italian, and French. And nowe perused, and digested into English, by Francis Meres, Maister of Artes, and student in diuinitie.

¶ Of the meanes by which this fortitude is obtained.

PErhaps some man will aske, by what meanes this fortitude may be procured and atchiued, seeing that it is no lesse dif∣ficult, then the other vertues? Wherfore not without cause the

Wise-man thus beginneth his Alphabet full of spirituall in∣structions; Who shall finde a strong and a valiant woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles. As if he should say, shee is more precious then all the treasure and Iems, which may be brought out of all the Coasts of the world. How then may we compasse a thing of so great price and value? We shall compasse it, first, if diligently we consider the dignity & excellency of it: for that ought to be in great account with vs, which openeth vnto vs the treasuries of all vertues. If it be otherwise, tell me, why the louers of thys world doe after that manner flie frō vertue? Not for any other cause, but because it is hard and difficult, vvhich difficulty sluggards doe shunne and flie. The slothfull man sayth, (as the Wise-man speaketh,) A Lyon is in the way, and a Lionesse in the streetes, in the midst of the way she will deuoure me. And in another place; The foole foldeth his handes, and eateth vp his owne flesh, saying: Better is a handfull with quietnes, then two hand∣fulls with labour and vexation of spirit.

Seeing therefore that there is no other thing that hindereth vs from comming vnto vertue, but this onely difficultie; if wee will embrace this fortitude to ouercome it, we haue already ob∣tained the kingdome of vertue, together with the kingdome of heauen: to which no man shall come, but hee that is valiant, strong, and vndaunted. In like manner, by this fortitude the loue of our selues is cast vnder foote, with the whole Army of her complices and confederats; which enemy, when it is ouer∣throwne and cast foorth, behold presently entereth in the loue of God, or, if you had rather, God himselfe. For as Saint Iohn sayth; God is loue, and he that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The manifold examples of the seruants of God doe much auaile and profit vs, whom we see heere in the world poore, na∣ked, bare-foote, and bare-legged, leaue, hungry, restlesse, ha∣uing not where to lay theyr heads, and wanting all those things, which are requisite for the maintenaunce of this life. Some of them doe so hasten to labours, and austerenes of life, where they may liue religiously and strictly, and not be entangled with the pleasures of this life, as a Merchant to some rich mart, or a stu∣dent of the liberall Sciences to some famous Vniuersity. What

I pray thee, can be more contrary to the custome of this world, and to the desires of her louers, then that a man should seek out those places, where his body may be pinched, his soule made heauie, and his life exposed to many greeuances and troubles? These are assuredly most contrary to flesh and blood, but very agreeable vnto the Spirit of GOD. But yet more especiallie our pleasures are condemned by the example of the Martyrs, who haue entred into the kingdome of heauen, by so many & so cruell torments.

Consider, howe one of them was rosted; another had his skinne pulld ouer his eares, the third, drowned in the water, the fourth, cast head-long from a steepe Rocke: a fift layde on a peece of vvood with a sharpe ridge, his flesh being scraped and rent of with a ragged tormenting Curry-combe, and his bowels beeing slitte out, yeelded vp the ghost: a sixth hath so many Darts sticking in him, that he is liker an Hedg-hog then a man: the seauenth is fryed in a frying pan, or boyled in scalding lead: others tormented with other extreame tortures. Consider how many of them haue beene tormented, not with one kinde of punishment, but with all kinde of torments, which humane na∣ture hath beene capable of, and so haue passed to death. For some haue been taken from the filthines & vncleannesse of the pryson to be whipped and scourged; from whipping & scour∣ging to be singed with burning coales; from burning coales to the bastinado; from the bastinado to yron combes; then to the sworde, which alone had beene sufficient to take away the life of the Martyrs; but not to make them shipwracke theyr fayth or constancie.

But what shall I speake of the arts, and inuentions, vvhich that ingenious and witty cruelty (I say not of men but of de∣uils) hath deuised, to ouer-throw and confound with corporall tortures, fayth, courage, & fortitude? Some of them, after they were most cruelly martyred, and theyr flesh all to be-torne and rent, were cast vpon a floare all sette with goades and prickes; that theyr bodies all at once might be goared and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with a thousand woundes: and that they might feele a generall greefe throughout all theyr members, that theyr intollerable payne, might striue for victory with their faith.

Others beeing condemned, were commaunded to walke vpon hote burning coales with their naked feete. Others bee∣ing tyed to the tayles of horses, were drawne ouer thornes and bryers, and rough places. Others were condemned to wheeles stucke all round about with sharpe kniues, that theyr bodies be∣ing put vppon them, whilst they turned about might be cutte small peeces. Others were stretched vpon Racks, and their bo∣dyes beeing harrowed and furrowed from top to toe with yron crookes and peircers, did openly show their naked bowels, the flesh being puld of, and their ribs lying bare.

What shall I say more? seeing that the barbarous and more then beastly cruelty of Tyrants, not being contented with these torments, hath found out a certaine new kind of cruelty. With certaine instruments they so brought together two high sturdie trees, that their tops touched one the other; to one of these tops they bound the right foote of the Martyr, to the other the left. Then losing the Trees to their old scope, they carried the body with them, and violently tare it in peeces, and each tree carryed with it his part into the ayre. In Nicomedia, among other innu∣merable Martyrs, one was beaten so long, till his white ribbs ap∣peared through his bloody wounds, for the scourges and whip∣pings had peece-meale puld away the flesh; then they washed his whole body with most strong vinegar, & after vinegar stuf∣fed all his wounds ful of salt. The Tyrants not yet satisfied with these dire discruciatements, and extreame tortures, when they saw that the Martyr yet breathed, they cast his halfe dead body vpon a gridyron, vnder which they made a fierce scorching fire, haling the gridyron this way and that with their yron hookes, vntil the body being fully rosted, the sanctified & pure-purged soule, passed to the Lord. And thus those most barbarous & in∣humane butcherly murtherers, inuented tortures more cruel thē death, which notwithstanding was wont to be termed the terri∣blest of all dreadful things. For they sought not so much to kill, as to slay with vnheard of torments, without any deadly wound, by a lingering death, and with intollerable greatnesse of dolours and sorrowes.

Surely these Martyrs had not bodies vnlike to ours, or which were of another substance: their flesh was as our flesh; and

theyr complexion was the same with ours: neyther had they another God for theyr helper, besides our God: neyther did looke for another glory, then that wee looke for. Proceede therefore, if they haue obtayned eternall life by so violent death, why should we feare for the same cause at the least to mortifie the euill concupiscences of our flesh? If they died through hunger, wilt not thou fast one day? If they with their mangled bodies perseuered in prayer, why wilt not thou being sound and in health with bended knees continue a little in prayer? If they were so patient, that without resisting or contradiction they suffered their members to be maymed and detruncate, and theyr flesh to be torne in peeces, why wilt not thou abide that thine appetites and thine vnruly affections should be circum∣cised and mortified? If they many yeares and many moneths sat imprisoned in darke dungeons, why wilt not thou a little be contayned and shut vp in thy chamber? If they haue not refu∣sed to haue their shoulders furrowed and mangled with whips and scourges, why wilt not thou chastice thine?

If these examples doe not suffice thee, lift vp thine eyes to the Crosse of Christ, and behold who is he, that hanging vp∣pon it suffered so great and so cruell things for the loue of thee. The Apostle sayth: Consider him that endured such speaking a∣gainst of sinners, least yee should be wearied and faint in your minds. This is a fearefull and a dreadfull example, what way so euer thou shalt consider of it. For if thou lookest vppon the tor∣ments, there can be no greater. If thou respectest the person, who suffereth, a more excellent cannot be giuen. If thou exa∣minest the cause for which he suffereth, not for his owne of∣fence, for he is innocency it selfe; neyther suffereth he of com∣pulsion, for he is the Creatour and Lord of all creatures: but of his mere goodnes, and free loue. Yet for all this he suffered so great torments, not only in his body, but also in his soule, that the torments of all Martyrs, & of all men that euer haue been in the world, are not to be compared with these. This was such a spec∣tacle, that the heauens were astonished; the earth trembled, rocks claue in sunder, and all the insencible creatures felt the in∣dignity of the thing. How therefore commeth it to passe, that man should be so insencible & blockish, that he should not feele

that, which the brute elements haue felt? with what face can he be so ingratefull, that he should not study somewhat to imitate him, who hath done and suffered so great things, that he might leaue vs an example? For euen so, as the Lord himselfe affirmeth, Christ ought to haue suffered, and so to enter into his glory. For seeing that he came into the world, that he might teach that heauen is not to be cōpassed by any other way then by the Crosse, it was necessary that the Lord himselfe should first be crucified, that a courage might be put into his Souldiers, seeing their Captaine to be so cruelly and inhumanely handled and intreated. Who then will be so ingratefull, wicked, proud, and impudent, who seeing the Lord of Maiesty, with all his friends and chosen ones to walke such difficult wayes, and yet he himselfe will be caried in an Horse-litter, and on a bed of Downe, & led his life in de∣liciousnes? King Dauid commaunded Vrias, whom he had cal∣led from warre, to goe into his owne house, to sup & sleepe with his wife: but the good seruant answered; The Arke, and Israell and Iuda dwell in tents: and my Lord Ioab and the seruants of my Lord abide in the open fields: shall I then goe into mine house to eate and drink, and lye with my wife? by thy life, & by the life of thy soule, I will not doe this thing. O good and faithfull seruant; who by so much is worthier of prayse, by how much he is vnworthier of death. And thou ô Christian, seeing thy Lord lying vpon an hard Crosse, hast thou no respect of him, neyther doost thou yeeld honour, & reuerence vnto him? The Arke of God made of incorruptible Ceder wood suffereth griefes and dolours, and vndergoeth most bitter death, and doost thou seeke for plea∣sures and delicacies? The Arke in which Manna was put (that is the foode of Angels) for the loue of thee tasted gall and vine∣ger, and doost thou long and hunt after sweet and delicious meates? The Arke in which the two tables of the law were (that is all the treasures of the wisedome and knowledge of God) is mocked, and derided as foolish, and wilt thou be smoothed and praysed, and doost thou gape after honors & preferments?

But if the example of this misticall Arke be not sufficient to confound thee, let the afflictions of the seruants of God, which abide & remaine vpon the face of the earth be ioyned vnto it: that is, the examples, & passions of all the Saints, Prophets, Mar∣tyrs,

Confessors, & Virgins, who with so many and so great tri∣bulations haue sayled ouer the huge and turbulent Sea of this world. Wherupon one of them saith; The Saints haue been tried by mockings & scurgings, yea, moreouer by bonds & prisoment. They were stoned, they were hewen asunder, they were tempted, they were slaine with the sword, they wandered vp and down in sheeps skins, and in goates skins being destitute, afflicted, and tormented: whō the world was not worthy of: they wandered in wildernesses, & mountaines, and dens, and caues of the earth. And these all through faith obtained good report: And among so many tribulations were found faithfull vnto God.

If therfore the life of the Saints was such yea, if the life of the Holy of Holies was such, surely I know not by what title, priui∣ledge, or immunity some doe think, to enter by the pleasures & delights of this world into that place, where these doe now ioy, and for euer shal reioyce. Wherfore, my brother, if thou desirest to raigne with them, learne to imitate them, learne to beare and suffer the troubles and discommodities of this life.

This exhortation wil be profitable vnto thee, to kindle & in∣flame thee with the loue of this vertue & fortitude, & that thou seeke for it & after it so long, vntill at the length thou commest to the perfection of that soule, of whō it is read, that she girded her loines with strength, & strengthned her armes. And that this chap∣ter may simbolize & agree with the whole doctrine of this se∣cond Booke, I will vse that most excellent & noble sentence of our Sauiour: If any man will come after me, let him deny himselfe, and take vp his Crosse daily, & follow me. In which words this hea∣uenly Teacher hath comprehended the sum of the whole doc∣trine of the Gospel, which is for this end ordained, that it might make a man Euangelicall & perfit: who deriuing the originall of his inward man from heauen, in his outward might take vp the Crosse: and through the sweetnes of the one might wil∣lingly embrace all the afflictions of the other.

¶ The end of the second Booke of the Sinners Guide. LAVS TRI-VNI DEO.

Notes

• Prou, 31,
• The slug∣gard flyeth frō vertue by reason of the difficul∣tie.
• Prou, 26,
• Ecclus, 4,
• 1, Iohn, 4,
• The seruent desire of some to serue God.
• The sundry & manifold tryals and torments of Martyrs.
• By this kinde of death reli∣gious & cō∣stant Coro∣na ended her lyfe.
• An horrible kind of mar¦ tyrdome.
• Heb. 12.
• Luke. 24.
• 2, Kings. 11.
• Heb. 11.
• Prou. 31.
• Luke. 9.